Bringing Wellness Full Circle

Posts tagged ‘organic’

A few weeks ago, we had an ant issue, and I simply sprinkled peppermint and rosemary essential oils around the perimeter of my sunroom–did it three times, and that was the end of the ants! I got so excited when I realized I don’t have to use chemicals in my home.

Today, I researched how to make my own dusting spray, changed the recipe a bit, did it, used it and loved it! So simple and wonderful! Here is my recipe:

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup vinegar (cuts through grease and grime & disinfectants)

2 tsp olive oil (shines and protects wood)

10-15 drops of doTerra lemon essential oil

Glass spray bottle

Combine all ingredients in spray bottle and shake well to mix. Shake every time you use because oil and water don’t mix.

~I am no longer comfortable eating questionable foods, and I am beginning to ask simple questions that should not be difficult to answer: Where does my food come from? Is it bred for best flavor or primarily for uniformity of size and color and increased yield? How is it grown? Is it part of a system that works in harmony with nature, or is it grown with synthetic chemicals and fertilizers? Is production sustainable? Do the conditions in which livestock are raised reflect a measure of respect for the animals’ natural instincts and well-being or are speed, efficiency and the profit margin the primary concerns?

What does “organic” really mean?

The USDA currently defines organic this way: “Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.”

Are organic food plain healthier? Well, here is what studies have shown so far:

~organic produce includes significantly higher levels of vitamin C and a greater variety of micro-nutrients than conventional produce

But is all “organic” food truly organic? Today, we have something called “industrial organic,” which puts increasing amounts of land under organic cultivation, reducing the amount of chemicals being unleashed on the environment and limiting the quantity of antibiotics and growth hormones given to livestock. So here’s the scoop: you have to be a label reader once again.

~Food labeled organic describes food that is no less than 95% organic (an organic soup, for instance, might include a small portion of non-organic ingredients).

~Food labeled “made with organic…” indicates that a specific organic ingredient is included in the processed food. (Tortilla chips might say “made with organic corn,” for example.) In this category, the product must contain 70% organically grown ingredients to receive the coveted USDA seal.

Buying organic

This buying organic stuff can get pretty expensive, so here are some suggestions:

~Some traditionally grown foods contain more pesticide residue than others, so if you have to pick and choose, go organic on the following: spinach, pears, nectarines, peaches, apples, strawberries, raspberries and potatoes. Produce that is typically “unwrapped” before being eaten–bananas, corn, onions, mangos, avocados–has lower levels of residual pesticide.

Foods containing higher levels of pesticides

Foods containing lower levels of pesticides

Apples

Asparagus

Bell peppers

Avocados

Celery

Bananas

Cherries

Broccoli

Grapes

Cauliflower

Peaches

Corn

Pears

Kiwi

Potatoes

Mangos

Raspberries

Onions

Spinach

Pineapples

Strawberries

Peas

~Go local before you go organic. You can ask the local farmers what are their practices and find those who practice healthy farming!

~Don’t be loyal to a brand and don’t be seduced by fancy packaging or well-known faces on the label, whether they’re Elmo or Paul Newman. All foods labeled “organic” in the U.S. go through the same certification process, according to the Organic Consumers Association.

~Shop in season!

~When your favorite organic foods are out of season, buy frozen, dried or canned versions of them. Produce such as peaches, corn and berries are cheaper this way than when shipped from thousands of miles away. And though canned goods tend to get a bad rap, they’re often picked ripe from the field and packed at the peak of freshness within hours. That means they tend to keep their vitamin and antioxidant levels – and their flavor.

~ Consider becoming a member of a food co-op that includes a sizable selection of organic items. Yes, you’ll pay a fee to join, but you’ll also get to purchase groceries at a discount. Many co-ops stock goods produced by farmers in the immediate area, so you’ll be doing your part to boost the local economy.

~ If you’ve got a green thumb, consider cultivating your own herb or vegetable garden at home. No space? Even a window box filled with rich soil will provide ample room for some basil and cherry tomatoes. Or find out if there’s a protected community garden in your neighborhood where you can plant and tend a few pepper and zucchini plants. It’s a bargain, and you’ll be able to monitor exactly what goes into the soil and onto your plants.

~Consider grass-fed beef. Corn feeds conventionally raised cattle. But grass, a cow’s natural food source, contains valuable nutrients that corn lacks, such as vitamin E, beta-carotene and folic acid. Meats from grass-fed animals contain more of these nutrients, too. Grass-fed beef also includes higher levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and less saturated fat, cholesterol and calories than grain-fed cattle. What’s more, because cattle’s complex digestive systems did not evolve to eat corn, many corn-fed cattle develop serious digestive problems and infections, which in turn require treatment with antibiotics. Grass-fed cattle also have been shown to have far fewer E-coli bacteria in their digestive systems, and those that are there are less likely to be dangerous to humans. So splurge here!